For booking, visit hayycinema.org, or purchase your ticket at the Hayy Cinema box office at Hayy Jameel.
Hayy Cinema opened to the public on December 6, 2022, coinciding with Hayy Jameel’s one-year anniversary.
Hayy Cinema expands the definition of cinema as a meeting point to watch, learn, exchange, discover and research; the complex includes a 168-seat theatre, a 30-seat community screening room, a multimedia library and an educational exhibition space. Imagined as a year-round home for the Saudi film community and local cine-enthusiasts, the permanent, two-floor space at Hayy Jameel is designed by Jeddah-based architectural practice Bricklab, whose design won an international architectural competition run by Art Jameel in 2019, and is based on the extensive research into the history of cinema in the Gulf, and interviews with Saudi and regional actors, directors and producers.
Hayy Cinema’s year-round programming includes Saudi, Arab and international features, shorts and documentaries and is set to host flagship film festivals for all – from children through to country- and genre-specific audiences.
November 2, 2023 – November 26, 2023
Hayy Cinema
This month Hayy Cinema programme brings together an electrifying clash of social strat by featuring the sixth feature film from acclaimed Egyptian filmmaker Ahmad Abdalla, a pioneer of the new wave of independent Arab cinema in the early 2000s. Abdalla brings his unique vision and storytelling prowess to the screen once again with his latest title 19B. In this thought-provoking film, tensions rise as individuals from different social backgrounds collide, exposing the stark contrasts and complexities of Egyptian society.
Hayy Cinema will also echo the vibrant energy of the upcoming Street Art Festival in Riyadh with a special programme featuring two films (My Vibe and Nour Shams) by acclaimed director Faiza Ambah. Through her lens, Faiza brings to life the dynamic world of street art, immersing viewers in a visually stunning and emotionally charged experience. Her films explore the power of self-expression, the impact of art on society, and the stories of the artists behind the vibrant murals that adorn city walls of Jeddah. Hayy Cinema will host a special screening of the 2 films on the 23rd of November and welcome Faiza Ambah and film crew members for a Q&A session.
This month’s programme is also curated to offer a delightful cinematic experience for our youngest audience members. Get ready for a lineup of enchanting and entertaining films that will captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike. From animated adventures to heartwarming tales, the Children’s Film Festival promises to bring joy, laughter, and meaningful lessons to the big screen. Parents can rest assured that the films selected for this festival are not only entertaining but also educational, promoting important values such as friendship, courage, and creativity. It’s the perfect opportunity for families to come together, share magical moments, and create lasting memories with drop in activities at Hayy Explorers.
The films on view:
19b
Killers of the Flower Moon
Nour Shams
My Vibe
Please check our What’s On page to learn more about each film.
October 5, 2023 – October 29, 2023
Hayy Cinema
The films on view:
Souad
Harka
Killers of the Flower Moon
Please check our What’s On page to learn more about each film.
September 16, 2023 – October 1, 2023
Hayy Cinema
The films on view:
Othman (2022)
VHS Tape Replaced (2023)
Old Phone Number (2023)
Please check our What’s On page to learn more about each film.
June 8, 2023 – June 25, 2023
Hayy Cinema
Red Sea Documentary Film Days presents six acclaimed documentary films from France, Guinea, Syria, Iraq and Saudi, exploring migration, camaraderie and cinema archives.
Co-curated by RSIFF and Art Jameel, the selection showcases three international documentary films supported by The Red Sea Fund and three homegrown Saudi films. Together, the six films follow the documentarian’s camera, exploring the breadth of directorial modes that look at how theatre, cinema and television influence the auteur’s life and those around them.
As part of the program opening Hayy Cinema will host a panel discussion:
The documentaries on view:
Yallah, Yallah, Beenah (2022)
Memories from the North (2022)
The King’s Poem (2022)
Becoming Iphigenia (2023)
My Lost Country (2022)
The Cemetery of Cinema (2023)
Please check our What’s On page to learn more about each film.
March 29, 2023 – May 31, 2023
Hayy Cinema 1
A two-venue collaboration between Art Jameel and Islamic Arts Biennale, this programme features a roster of local and international films taking place at Hayy Cinema and the Islamic Arts Biennale’s iconic Hajj Terminal
Discover and unwind with films that recount human and more-than-human stories against a backdrop of rapid urbanisation and migration. How do we respond to shifting landscapes while remaining connected to the natural world? The programme raises questions that attempt to reveal an interdependent ecosystem manifesting in food, culture and faith.
The films on view:
HAYY CINEMA
Raven’s Song (2022)
A Road to Mecca (2008)
Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo (2022)
ISLAMIC ARTS BIENNALE CINEMA
Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo (2022)
Roll’em (2019)
Please check our What’s On page to learn more about each film; tickets are purchased at the Hayy Cinema box office at Hayy Jameel.
March 1, 2023 – March 19, 2023
Hayy Cinema 1
A month-long programme curated by the Hayy Cinema team, ‘Hayy Matsuri: at the Cinema’ accompanies the four-day Japanese Cultural Festival taking place across Hayy Jameel and continues through the month of March.
The programme presents iconic and genre-defining films by world-renowned directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, author of poignant family chronicles and recipient of the Palme d’Or at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. Kore-eda has built an intimate body of work, highlighting the mundane lives of ordinary people.
In addition, this programme features Anime, a genre at the heart of Japanese film practices, presenting the work of acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai who emerged as one of Anime’s leading visionary directors. His most famous works Your Name (2016), and Weathering with You (2019) have garnered mainstream success in recent years. Now as part of Hayy Matsuri, we would like to introduce our audience to his earlier work with the sci/fi film The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) and 5 Centimeters per Second (2007).
Hayy Matsuri film programme also includes the Japanese-Saudi cultural collaboration The Journey (2021), directed by Kōbun Shizuno, a critical fusion, showcasing the rich culture of Saudi Arabia viewed through the stylings of Japanese animation.
Please check our What’s On page to learn more about each film.
December 6, 2022 – March 25, 2023
Hayy Library and Hayy Archives
Alongside the retrospective is a thoroughly researched and rare archival exhibition that highlights renowned photographer Gamal Fahmy’s contribution to the revolutionary force of filmmaking in the region. The exhibition features never-before-seen photographs, a collection of personal items, vintage cameras, and various ephemera.
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